They encamped at Ruma, between al-Jurf and Zaghabah, with ten thousand fighters made up of their allied clans, the Aḥābīsh, together with supporters from Banū Kinānah and the people of Tihāmah. Ghaṭafān likewise advanced with those who followed them from the highlands of Najd, halting in the valley of Naqamā next to Mount Uḥud.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ went out with the Muslims, placing Mount Salʿ behind them, three thousand strong. He pitched his camp there, the trench lying between him and the enemy, and he ordered that the women and children be lodged in the fortified towers.
Ibn Hishām adds: He appointed Ibn Umm Maktūm as governor of Madinah in his absence.
I say: This is the purport of the Almighty’s words, “When they came at you from above you and from below you, when eyes shifted in fear, hearts reached the throats, and you entertained various thoughts about Allah.” (al-Aḥzāb 33:10)
Al-Bukhārī relates through ʿUthmān ibn Abī Shaybah, ʿAbdah, Hishām ibn ʿUrwah, from his father, from ʿĀʾishah—may Allah be pleased with her—with regard to the same verse: “That was on the Day of the Trench.”
Mūsā ibn ʿUqbah says: When the Confederates surrounded Madinah, the Banū Qurayẓah shut the gates of their fortress.
Ibn Isḥāq narrates: Ḥuyayy ibn Akhṭab al-Naḍarī went out to Kaʿb ibn Asad al-Qurazī, the holder of their pact and covenant. When Kaʿb heard of his arrival he barred the gate of his fortress. Ḥuyayy asked permission to enter, but Kaʿb refused.
Ḥuyayy called out, “Woe to you, Kaʿb, open up for me!”
Kaʿb replied, “Woe to you, Ḥuyayy! You are an ill-omened man. I have pledged my word to Muḥammad and will not break it. From him I have seen nothing but loyalty and truth.”
Ḥuyayy said, “Open up so I may speak with you.”
Kaʿb answered, “I will not.”
Ḥuyayy retorted, “By Allah, you have shut me out only because you are protecting your pot of gruel, afraid I might share it with you.” The remark stung Kaʿb, so he opened the gate.
Ḥuyayy entered and said, “Woe to you, Kaʿb! I bring you everlasting might and a surging sea.”
Kaʿb asked, “And what is that?”
He replied, “I have brought Quraysh with their leaders and nobles; I have stationed them at Mujtamaʿ al-Asyāl in Ruma. And I have brought Ghaṭafān with their leaders and nobles; I have settled them in the valley of Naqamā beside Uḥud. They have pledged to me that they will not depart until we have wiped out Muḥammad and those with him.”
Kaʿb said, “By Allah, you have brought me the disgrace of the ages and a spent rain-cloud—thundering and flashing yet empty. Woe to you, Ḥuyayy! Leave me to what I am upon, for from Muḥammad I have seen nothing but loyalty and truth.”